What is a Tire Balance?
There are a variety of services that your vehicle needs to have performed regularly in order to function at its best over the years. This includes several forms of tire service. You may have heard of tire rotations, but you’re probably wondering, “what is a tire balance?”
At Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Vista, we’re here to help drivers throughout Vista, Escondido, and Carlsbad learn more about this important service and how it benefits their vehicle. Keep reading to find out more about tire balance and whether your vehicle needs it!
What Does Tire Balancing Do?
No tire is perfect. They look perfectly round and even, but there are tiny imperfections that occur over its lifetime. One sidewall may be thicker, part of the tread may have more depth, and the weight could be uneven. This is why tire balancing is necessary.
Tire balancing is the process of attaching small metal clips to make sure that the weight is even on all sides of your tire. This is to ensure optimal performance on the road without any issues. The tires are removed and put through a machine that spins the wheel at various speeds to detect where the tire needs balancing. However, your tire balance gets shifted over time, so this service will need to occur periodically over the years.
How to Tell I Need Tire Balancing
There are a few ways that you can tell that your tires are in need of a balance. You’ll want to look out for the signs that indicate a tire balance is needed:
- Vibration in the Steering Wheel
- You Recently Had a Flat Tire
- Your Tires are New
- You’ve Lost a Rim
- The Wear is Uneven
- It’s Been Two Years Since Your Last Balance
Tire Balance vs Tire Rotation
You may be wondering the difference between tire balance vs. tire rotation. Both are crucial services that you’ll need to have performed on your tires. The difference is that tire balance focuses on each tire by placing weights along the rim to even out the weight and imperfections.
Tire rotations, on the other hand, also deal with weight distribution, but from your vehicle. As the front of your vehicle weighs more than the back, your front tires deal with more pressure. That’s why they get changed out with the rear tires, so each tire shares the weight responsibility and can last as long as expected.
Schedule Your Tire Balance Today
At Norm Reeves Honda Superstore Vista, we hope that this “what is a tire balance” guide answered some of your questions about this important form of automotive service. If you notice any of the signs that indicate you may be in need of tire balancing service, you can always contact us for help!
Our team has the skills and equipment to make sure that your tires are properly balanced and ready to take on the roads of Vista, Escondido, Carlsbad, and beyond!
Schedule your tire balance with us today!